An Iowa City man accused of neglecting more than 200 birds on his rural Solon property has been given a year of probation and fined $315.

Francis Prohaska, 71, pleaded guilty last week to livestock neglect, a serious misdemeanor, according to Johnson County Court records. The judge granted him a deferred judgment, meaning the conviction can be cleared from his record if he abides by the terms of his probation.

The charge stemmed from a Dec. 9 search of the farmstead. Deputies found a number of dead birds and counted about 200 others, including ducks, geese, chickens and pigeons on the property that had overgrown trees and barns that were falling in.

Days earlier, police were contacted by an official with Iowa City Animal Services, who told law enforcement that livestock was neglected at 2250 Turner Ave. Prohaska then did not show up to a scheduled meeting with an officer to ask him about the complaint, according to court documents.

Iowa City Animal Services and the Johnson County Sheriff's Office rescued over 200 birds during an animal welfare investigation on Saturday.(Photo11: Special to the Press-Citizen)

After two informants told police about the "horrific conditions," officers searched the property with a veterinarian who determined a rescue was needed, according to a criminal complaint. While executing a search warrant, officials found dead birds and bird skeletons, along with several that were sick, injured and disabled, authorities said.

The veterinarian said the lack of care resulted in the death of the livestock; the animals were removed from the property. In total, 110 ducks and geese, 76 chickens and 49 pigeons were found and taken to Animal Services.

Prohaska was arrested on Dec. 18 and released soon after. In December, Johnson County Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek told the Press-Citizen that Prohaska was likely feeding the birds, but not always giving them water because there was no water source on the land.

Liz Ford, supervisor of the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center, said the birds were adopted “little by little.” A few birds died after they were taken to Animal Services because of the previously poor conditions they endured, she said.

The conviction was not Prohaska’s first for animal neglect. In 2016, he pleaded guilty to animal neglect charges after police found an abandoned van with 62 ducks, 19 of which were dead, inside at the parking lot of the former Hy-Vee in Iowa City.

The ducks were signed over to Animal Services, and Prohaska was fined $300 in that case, according to court documents.

Reach Zach Berg at 319-887-5412, zberg@press-citizen.com or follow him on Twitter at @ZacharyBerg. This story includes information from the Associated Press.